title: Antiaromatic dianions: dianions of dixanthylidene by reduction and attempted excited-state deprotonation.
abstract: Reduction of dixanthylidene with potassium or lithium resulted in formation of the antiaromatic dianion in high yield. Attempts to form the dianion by excited-state deprotonation of dixanthene with n-butyllithium/TMEDA resulted in formation of the tetraanion from deprotonation ortho to the oxygen. Orientation of the sp(3) hydrogens presumably allows preferential deprotonation of the xanthene rings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas 78212, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Clifford
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Woodford
authors.forename: Nancy S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Mills